Unmanned aerial vehicles: modeling signal latency effects using arena™

Recent military operations have showcased the abilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly in their ability to effectively perform those tasks too dangerous for manned aircraft. We examine non-autonomous operations of an UAV in those instances where the vehicle is used for laser target designation in support of precision guided munitions with non-line-of-sight command and control of the UAV. Non-line of sight UAV control requires a satellite communications link which involves a level of signal delay, or signal latency. This latency may impact the accuracy of the laser designation and thus the accuracy of the guided weapon. A simulation model is defined, built, and used to address the signal latency impacts of our defined UAV targeting scenario.